Hagsund would love to close career with pair of titles at CAA tourney

Wednesday

Apr 18, 2012 at 12:05 PM

By Brian MullBrian.Mull@StarNewsOnline.com

Sofia Hagsund has been a coach's dream during her four-year career on the UNCW women's golf team: Excellent student, team leader, solid holding down the No. 1 slot for the Seahawks the last two years. Coach Cindy Ho laughed when asked if Hagsund required any maintenance at all.Put it this way: she's not worried about receiving a troublesome late-night phone call.On the course, Hagsund sets an example for her younger teammates. Her stoic approach helps her handle the birdies, bogeys and breaks in a round of golf."She finds a way to stay positive," Ho said. "Most of the Swedes are strong mentally. They don't let a whole lot of things wear on them or affect them throughout the round. She's able to bounce back from a bad round or a bad stretch of holes. It's done. You can't even tell what she shoots half the time."An individual victory in a college golf tournament is the only line missing from Hagsund's résumé. She enters this weekend's Colonial Athletic Association championship ranked fifth in the conference, with top 10 finishes in this tournament the last two years.Putting has held her back this season. She has a career-best 75.7 stroke average with all 24 rounds in the 70s, but she's failed to break par. She's spent extra time on the practice green at the Country Club of Landfall Nicklaus course of late, hoping to improve on a season average of less than two birdies per round."She hits a lot of greens," Ho said. "But she needs to roll the ball and really believe she can make birdies out there. She's been working hard on her putting and that's the key for her and our whole entire team."The Seahawks have only four individual rounds under par this season and, like all the CAA contenders, must win to keep playing. They are 90th in the Golfstat rankings and not under consideration for an at-large bid to an NCAA Regional. Last season they faced a similar situation and stunned the CAA field with a five-shot victory over Georgia State at Pinehurst No. 6.That's one highlight for Hagsund in a career she's reflected on somewhat of late. She said she's more open with others and mature than when she arrived, and teammate Laverry Kumar appreciates the friendship and healthy competition they've shared. Hagsund has also gained distance on her tee shots and improved her short game. And while a trip home to the picturesque coastal town Landskrona sounds inviting now, those feelings will be different as summer ends."I don't think I'm going to realize it's over until August comes, and I'm not coming back," Hagsund said.

Brian Mull: 343-2034On Twitter: @BGMull

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